HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - November 10, 1994OR
4
CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA TITLE: Notice of Proposed Amendments to the Measure K Expenditure Plan
(Information Only)
MEETING DATE: November 10, 9994
PREPARED BY: Public Works Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council review the proposed amendments to the Measure K
expenditure plan and take no action.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The San Joaquin County Council of Governments has approved
four amendments to the Measure K expenditure plan which was
originally approved by the voters in 1990. The member agencies
have until December 11, 1994 to formally object to the
amendments if they wish to do so.
The background material for the amendments is attached. The four amendments are for projects
located in Stockton and the south County. All were supported by Lodi City representatives. At this
time, no funding changes are to be made.
FUNDING: None required.
c
Jack . Ronsko
.Publi Works Director
Prepared by Richard C. Prima, Jr., City Engineer
JLR/RCPIIm
attachments
APPROVED` — — 1 a
THOMAS A. PETERSON --- -- --- -- e`Ycled �� paper
City Manager
WA OEND.00C 1q"
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Joaquin County Council U Governmentsa7 3I .y9
FIRR
• Membcr Atemics: Cities of Escalon. Lathrop. Codi. Manteca. Ripon. Stockton. Tracy. County of San to y
October 27, 1994
Mr. Thomas Peterson
City Of Lodi
City Manager
221 W. Pine St.
Lodi, CA 95241-1910
RE: Notice of Proposed Amendments to the Measure K Expenditure Plan
Dear Mr. Peterson:
Once a year, the San Joaquin Council of Governments has the authority to review and
propose amendments to the Measure K Transportation Expenditure Plan. At its
October 26 meeting, a two-thirds majority of the COG Board concurred with a set of
four proposed amendments to the plan. The staff report and text of the proposed
amendments is attached. Please have your governing body review these. Unless
appealed, these proposed amendments shall become effective 45 days after this
notice is given, or December 11, 1994.
In the event that a local jurisdiction does not agree with the Authority's amendments,
the governing body must, by a majority vote, determine to formally notify the
Authority of its intent, in writing via registered mail, to obtain an override of the
amendments. The appealing jurisdiction has 45 days from the date the Authority
adopts the proposed amendments (December 10, 1994) to obtain resolutions
supporting an override by a majority of the cities representing a majority of the
population residing within the incorporated areas of the County and from the Board
of Supervisors. If a jurisdiction does not obtain the necessary resolutions supporting
the override, the Authority's amendments will stand.
Please contact me if you have any concerns or questions about the proposed
amendments. Thank vou.
Sinc rely,
DEBRA L. HALE
Senior Regional Planner
Regional Transportation Planning Agtncy, local Transportation Authority. Congestion 4lanagesrtent Agency, Airport Land Use Commission
102 South San Joaquin Sirrrt- 1th Flax 0 P() &n 1010 0 Stockton. Cahlorma 95201-1010 • 42'09, 169-±911 9 FAX l'09) 169-1094
11
RESOLUTION
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY COUNCIL OR GOVERNMENTS
s
R-95-08
RESOLUTION OF THE
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE MEASURE K EXPENDITURE PLAN
WHEREAS, the San Joaquin County Transportation Authority may consider one pacimge of
proposed amendments to the Measure K Expenditure Plan per calendar year and the Authority
has voted by roll call vote entered into the minutes with a two-thirds majority concurring with
the proposed amendments;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Joaquin County Transportation Authority
hereby concurs with the following proposed amendments to the Measure K Expenditure Plan (as
amended in November. 1992):
McHenry Avenue
Widen to 4 &=5 lanes from Mahon Road to the Stanislaus River. This project will be
partially funded with developer fees.
I-205
Widen to 6 lanes from E-580 Alameda-Eewny to I-5. Project to be partially state
highway funded. nxd�rdurg rite ptarrof � prolOcx:tha;failsrriIrr� Ameda..:.,Coag
Rail Crossing Safety Projects: Stockton Planning Area
Hammer at UPRR
Hammer at SPRR
March at UPRR
March at SPRR
French Camp Road at UPRR
Lower Sacramento Road at UPRR
West`tszieSPRR*
Thrs _F�: as adde� � tl�• Iist� � etlg�� ,; .3x� � attvcatoa
Measure lid fizsads E�u+c K fewditlg:%c tiic w�i oul� `bC. a;"oWea
beoom�avrabi or out; Tba+t wt>T be na <reratw.
`ar of
ejnattt gro Cts Tn addn ou. sr wt7Lcaplorc fuadza8 scurz�°�at
Parc Avenue
Widen to 6 lanes from aortic of tbe. Calavvz! .:River Mpine to March Lane. Project is
fully sales tax funded.
V
R-95-08
Page TvQ
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Authority shall provide the Board of Supervisors and
the City Council of each city in the county with a copy of the proposed amendments and the
proposed amendments will become effective 45 days after notice is given, unless appealed; and
that the Council of Governments shall hold a public hearing on the proposed amendments within
this 45 day period.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 26th day of October, 1994 by the following vote of the
San Joaquin County Council of Governments, acting as the Local Transportation Authority, to
wit:
AYES: Warren, Manteca; Weaver, Stocton; Darrah, Stockton; Freeman,
Lathrop; Pennino, Lodi; Ennis, Escalon; Bland, Tracy.
NOES: None
ABSF14T• Sousa, San Joaquin County; Cabral, San Joaquin County;
Dale, Ripon.
orb:
__
o' b i
SUBJECT:
RECOIAMENDATION:
DISCUSSION:
. , Pt
STAFF REPORT
Measure K Expenditure Plan Amendments
Approve Expenditure Plan Amendments and
Corresponding Strategic Pian Amendments
Agenda 6A
10/94
Board
The Expenditure Plan is the voter -approved plan that sets the list of eligible projects and basic
scope for congestion relief projects. Amending this plan may be done once in a given calendar
year. Expenditure Pian amendments must be passed by a roll call vote entered in the minutes
and must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote. Once adopted, the amendments must be
circulated to the Board of Supervisors and the City Councils, for a 45 day review period. Any
jurisdiction may appeal for an override of the amendments during this review period.
As you will recall, Expenditure Plan amendments were originally brought before you in
September. The COG Board asked for a one-month deferral of amendments, to allow time to
research facts related to the McHenry Avenue project amendment. In addition, staff has added
two new Expenditure Plan amendments.
Amendment 1: Change Scope of McHenry Avenue Project to allow for 5 lanes
Amendment 2: Revise the Boundaries of the I-205 Project to Match State Programming
Amendment 3: Add West Lane Q Southern Pacific to the Railroad Crossings Projects
Amendment 4: Eliminate Pacific Avenue widening south of the Calaveras River
Staff recommends adoption of all four Expenditure Plan amendments, based on the
information presented below. Staff further recommends that corresponding Strategic Plan
amendments be adopted at this time.
1. MCHenry Avenue
The project is currently described in the Expenditure Plan as follows:
Widen to 4 lanes from Mahon Road to the Stanislaus River. This project will be partially
funded with developmenr fees.
011- OF
McHenry Ave. Project Limits
LO g Routs 120
WProposed Rahe 120
.sage
Propaud Traffic Sigztal
Pzvpased Cul -de -Sac
lolo,
Mahon
Yosemite Ave
St Claire
Catherine
River Road
The amendment would change the description from "widen to 4 lanes" to "widen to 4 or 5
lanes" allowing the City of Escalon to spend Measure K money on a 5 -lane project within its
boundaries. Escalon's City Engineer has indicated that due to planned commercial development
in Escalon, a center lane to allow left hand turns is needed. A project team of COG, the City
of Escalon, San Joaquin County and Caltrans staff has discussed whether it makes more sense
to widen McHenry Avenue to 3 lanes, or to 5 lanes. The project also now includes extensive
improvements to Route 120 in the project area, to accommodate Caltrans requirements and allow
the project to proceed.
San Joaquin County staff has raised concerns that a 3 lane facility would not accommodate
traffic beyond the year 2000, while a 5 -lane facility will accommodate traffic at an acceptable
level of service (LOS D or better) through 2010. City staff raised concerns about the additional
tight -of -way needed to build a 5 -lane facility. More right-of-way, they argue, could increase
the exposure to hazardous materials and have a greater impact on local residents, thereby
slowing down the project and adding significantly to its cost.. The project team agreed to
examine the issues of cost, schedule, right-of-way, hazardous materials and traffic projections,
and make a recommendation on the 5 -lane facility. Based on the information below, the team
recommends amending the Expenditure Plan to allow for the 5 lane alternative in the City
of Escalon segments of the project:
f=. New cost estimates have been developed for both the 3 and 5 -lane alternatives for
Segment I of the project. Both cost estimates reflect improvements to Route 120 in the
area ("Alternative 4" described in previous staff reports and shown on the attached map),
as well as a 5 -lane segment through the Route 120 portion of McHenry. For many
reasons, the cost estimate for each alternative has increased. First, the full cost of the
Route 120 improvements as well as the McHenry Avenue improvements are now
reflected. Second, project report, environmental review, structures relocation,
contingency costs, and construction survey, testing and inspection costs were added.
Some of these costs would have been borne by Caltrans and must now be paid out of .
other funds. As a result of this cost increase, as well as a loss of over S2 million in
potential state funds, both alternatives require additional funds from some source.
The project team recommends making up the shortfall by amending the Strategic
Plan to take $3.251 million of the $10 million allocated to the Escalon Bypass and
give it to Segment 1 of the McHenry Avenue project. There are advantages and
disadvantages to this funding shift. It should be recognized that the Escalon Bypass is
presently underfunded and will be even more so if this shift takes place. Without a large
contribution of state funds to the Bypass, it is very unlikely it wiit be constructed during
the 20 year Measure K period. However, the McHenry project postpones the need for
the Bypass because the McHenry project improves Route 120 traffic flow. Second, in
all likelihood the construction of the Bypass would be postponed'anyway into the latest
years of the Measure K program due to the lack of state matching funds. In
consideration of all of these factors, the project team recommends the shift of funds.
A
Any additional matching funds shall be reimbursed to COG to offset the Measure K contribution.
City staff indicates that up to 5554,000 may be available.
Alternative
Total Cost
Current
Measure K
Matching
Funds
Shortfall
3 -lane
$6,118,000
$2,912,000
$285,000
$2,921,000
5 -lane
$7,557,000-
$2,912,000
5394,000
54,251,000
ILDifference
$1,439,000
LOL
5109,000
51,330,000
•Schedul . The state highway portion of the project (the same in both alternatives) drives
the project schedule, sole completion date for both options would be within a few months
of each other. Although it is anticipated that the right-of-way acquisition would take
longer with the 5 -lane project, this can be started early enough in the process to have little
impact on the open -to -the -public date. The tentative date for completion of the project is
October, 1997.
Right -of -Way. More right-of-way is required for the 5 -lane alternative. Therefore, more
property owners (residential and commercial) are affected. In addition, negotiations with
these property owners may be more protracted.
Hazardous Materials. The possible exposure to hazardous materials could be considered
greater in the 5 -lane alternative, due to the greater amount of right-of-way needed.
However, based on current information all sites with a potential for hazardous materials
(gas stations, etc.) are located in the state highway portion of the project. Therefore, it
is anticipated that both alternatives will face the same hazardous materials issues. .
Traffic Projections. An examination of the COG traffic projections shows that in the
County sections of the road, levels of service will fall below the standard without a 4 or
5 lane facility.
2 I-205
In an earlier legal document, COG counsel noted that the project description in the Expenditure
Plan set the project boundaries as: 1-5 to Alameda County. On the other hand, the first part of
the project was programmed for funding as Eleventh Street to 1-580. The project is also listed
in the Strategic Plan with the western boundary at I-580, which is about 3/4 of a mile into
Alameda County. To correct this discrepancy, counsel recommended amending the
Expenditure Plan description to show the project boundaries as "I-5 to I-580." Staff
supports this recommendation.
iN
1
San Joaquin County proposes to add a new project to the Expenditure Plan's list of eligible
Railroad Crossing Safety Projects. The project would be a joint effort between the City of
Stockton and the County, with the County taking the lead.
Scope. If included in the Expenditure Plan, the scope of the project, for the Strategic Plan, will
read in part:
The grade separation will be an undercrossing that will provide for 6 lanes and a
median (four lanes existing). The underpass will extend from Alpine Avenue to El Pinal
Drive, over a length of 2300 feet. Approximately half of the project lies within county
jurisdiction and half within city limits. A tiered sub -level for pedestrians and bicycles
will be provided. As a consequence of the grade differential, street access to adjacent
properties will be impacted. Due to significant tra,,lc volumes on West Lane, special
consideration will be given to partial closure or staged construction.
Cost and Funding. The County has prepared a project budget as follows:
ct
EWestpLarn'e
Total Cost Expected
Matching Funds
Expected
Measure K
Xing
$8,525,000 S4,625,000
53,900,000
County staff understands that there is no available Measure K money in the Rail Crossing
category at this time. The intention is to include the project on the eligibility list, which may
enable the project to receive funding as it becomes available. The County has indicated that
funding will be pursued under the State Grade Separation Program. Project scheduling will be
influenced by the potential receipt of Public Utilities Commission grant funding.
In determining whether to amend the Expenditure Plan to include this project, there are several
important issues to consider:
This amendment would add an unfunded rail crossing project to the Measure K
program—one that was not considered by the voters. The grade separation category
currently includes 14 eligible projects, of which only 8 received funding. Should a new
project be added when 4 of the existing projects have not received an allocation?
• In order for this project to receive Measure K funds, it would need to take money from a
funded project. This decision is being delayed until the next revision of the Strategic Plan.
• The City of Stockton has been allocated rail crossing funds for 4 projects, out of a total of
8 funded projects. This project would add fifth project to the Stockton area, although
technically much of the project is in the County. Should the Measure K rail crossing monies
be spread out to other areas, instead?
m
y ICIN ITY MAP
WEST LANE / SPRR
GRADE SEP-!P_1TIO
0'
':
Based on the scoring criteria used to rank existing rail crossings (levels of traffic, number
of trains/day, speed of trains, accident rase), the project would probably rank high. In
addition, as the preferred passenger rail line, train usage of this track will probably increase
in the future. Therefore, this can be considered a regionally important project. Both the
City of Stockton and the County support the project.
After evaluating these issues, staff recommends adding this project to the Expenditure Plan.
Staff also recognizes that the project will need to compete for funds in the upcoming revision
of the Strategic Plan.
4. Eliminate Pacific Avenue widening south of the Calaveras River
The Expenditure Plan description for the Pacific Avenue project currently reads:
Widen to 6 lanes from Alpine to March Lane. Project is fully sales tax funded
This month, the Stockton City Council took a straw vote that recommended eliminating from
the Stockton Streets Program the Pacific Avenue widening south of the Calaveras River.
Provided that prior to the COG Board meeting the City Council finalizes this decision, staff
recommends amending the Expenditure Plan description to reflect that action. This revised
language would read "Widen to 6 lanes from north of the Calaveras River to March Lane.
Project is fully sales tax funded."
This project currently is allocated S2.236 million in Measure K funds in the Strategic Plan. In
making this Expenditure Plan amendment, the COG should recognize that excess funds will
remain in this project. These funds should be reallocated to another Congestion Relief project
in the near future, in accordance with the reallocation process that is currently under
development.
FISCAL IMPACT: Amendment 1: McHenry Avenue would shift S4,251,000 in Measure K
funds from the Escalon Bypass to the McHenry Avenue, segment 1
project. Because the McHenry project is scheduled 6 years ahead of the
Bypass, an undetermined amount of interest earnings would be lost.
Amendment 2: I-245 would have no fiscal impact.
Amendment 3: West Lane Railroad Crossing could result in a future shift
of Measure K funds from a rail crossing project to the West Lane project.
Amendment t: Pacific Avenue would free up an unknown amount of
funds for use by other Congestion Relief projects in the future.
BY: Debra L. Halt. Senior Regional Planner